Best Overall Racing Years

Dan Rear · 6 Nov 2003, 17:47 (Ref:775075)

As an add-on to the best ever races, what about the best year for racing worldwide as a whole. For example, I've always thought 1979 was great, 1980 pretty poor.

In 79 we had a 'ground effect' revolution, or so it seemed at the time. F1 was pretty good, great drivers, and many different cars competitive, Ferrari, Ligier, Williams, Renaults improving, Lotus struggling despite 78, Brabhams in trouble. Plus some 'oddities', like the Arrows A2, Kahusen, Fittipaldi F6 and so forth.

F2 was really good with wins from Osella, Ralt, Marches drivers like Daly/Warwick/Rahal/Stohr/Fabi/Surer, Superhenmany more. F3 too had a goodcrop of drivers, mainly in Marches, with the occasional Chevron, Ralt, Martini, Lola.

In Britain Aurora was great, Atlantic pretty good, FF1600 and 2000 good, Sports 2000 also, Donington GTs and so on good too.

I accept that sportscars were really struggling at that time, but most others seemed to be doing well, also in the States, Atlantic/CART/even CanAm wasn't too bad that year.

See what I mean, anyone else have good memories of particular years, without too much 'rose-tinted' !!

**Adam43** · 6 Nov 2003, 20:45 (Ref:775218)

Late 60s, early 70s. F1 and Sportscar rocked. If I had to choose a year I'll go for '71. All the other categories seemed fun too!!!

krt917 · 6 Nov 2003, 20:52 (Ref:775223)

I agree. My favourite periods are probably the late fifties and mid-60s to early 70s (umm, maybe a Sportscar bias there!). Probably pick 1971 as it saw great Sportscar racing, a mixed F1 grid (well, OK, not engine-wise) and the best driver won the title. It was also the last year that Pedro Rodriguez and Seppi raced. Oh, and I don't think the touring car scene was too bad (Trans-Am was at its peak in the States!).

More recently, the late-80s to early 90s wasn't a bad period what with Mansell, Senna, Prost and co. doing their stuff in F1, Group C still around, and the CART championship going from strength to strength (before annoying split with IRL).

Andrew Kitson · 9 Nov 2003, 11:30 (Ref:777685)

I'd say anywhere between 1968 and 1975. The most beautiful Sportscars - 917, GT40, 512S, F3L etc etc. Several world champions on the F1 grids and non championship F1 races, F1 drivers in F2 at Mallory, F5000, F.Atlantic, F3 ( remember the slipstreamer races and 75 entries at Silverstone?), special /supersaloons, big banger BTCC cars, Crystal Palace, the old Snetterton with Russell kink, Oulton without chicanes and a fast Silverstone before the Luffield/vale fiasco. No motorhomes!

**Adam43** · 9 Nov 2003, 13:59 (Ref:777873)

I have to agree with your eras krt. The best comes when sporstcar hits a peak too. The peak of the turbo '80s years doesn't quite hit the peak of Group C, so that gives it to the early '70s for me. (I agree with your '50s and '60s too).

The grid for Le Mans in '57 was amazing. Loads of manufacturers all bring lots of different cars each.

However the peak of any racing is the 917 and 512s. I can't see it get any better than that. That is not being nostalgia, just realistic!

D-Type · 9 Nov 2003, 22:01 (Ref:778226)

To me the common point about all these postings is the reference to racing outside Formula 1. Sadly, Bernie has made such a good job of promoting F1 that he has stifled coverage and hence interest in other forms of racing.

If I have to pick a year I'll go for 1967 or so

The DFV
The GT40, 917 and 512
The Mini Cooper S
International F2
International and National F3
Early Rallycross
etc, etc

krt917 · 10 Nov 2003, 09:35 (Ref:778606)

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
I have to agree with your eras krt. The best comes when sporstcar hits a peak too. The peak of the turbo '80s years doesn't quite hit the peak of Group C, so that gives it to the early '70s for me. (I agree with your '50s and '60s too).

However the peak of any racing is the 917 and 512s. I can't see it get any better than that. That is not being nostalgia, just realistic!

Quote:

Originally posted by D-Type
To me the common point about all these postings is the reference to racing outside Formula 1. Sadly, Bernie has made such a good job of promoting F1 that he has stifled coverage and hence interest in other forms of racing.

True

macca · 12 Nov 2003, 09:50 (Ref:780803)

D-Type wrote:
"To me the common point about all these postings is the reference to racing outside Formula 1. Sadly, Bernie has made such a good job of promoting F1 that he has stifled coverage and hence interest in other forms of racing.

If I have to pick a year I'll go for 1967 or so

The DFV
The GT40, 917 and 512
The Mini Cooper S
International F2
International and National F3
Early Rallycross
etc, etc"

I agree with your choice of year; but the 917 was 1969, the 512 was 1970, and the GT40 came out in 1964 and won Le Mans in 1968-9.

1967 because:-
last year of big variety of F1 engines
last year with national colours, not fag packets
Jim Clark's last full year
P4/Ford Mk 2 & 4/Lola-Aston/Chaparral
Porsche 907 & 910/206 Dino/Matra-BRM/Chevron
first year of 1600 F2

Second choice:1957; because:-
Maserati/Ferrari/Vanwall/BRM in F1
unlimited sports prototypes (like 1967!), eg 335s, 450s, DBR2, D-Type
last Mille Miglia
Fangio's last full year
last year of 300-mile GP's and alcohol fuel

Paul Mackness

D-Type · 12 Nov 2003, 17:45 (Ref:781228)

Correction accepted

I was posting at work without checking. Excuses, excuses...

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